In the course of writing my email un-attachment plugin for Mail.app (and subsequently updating it for Leopard), I found that Apple has a capable, but entirely undocumented, plugin API. I’m providing this update to my previous tutorial in the hopes that it may be useful to anyone else considering implementing a plugin for Apple Mail.
There is now a beta version of the AttachmentScannerPlugin for Mail.app on Leopard. This version has received only limited testing, which is to say that it works for me, but it might not for you. If you encounter any troubles using it, please post them in the comments.
If you haven’t installed any other plugins in Mail under Leopard, you’ll need to run the following commands in Terminal:
% defaults write com.apple.mail BundleCompatibilityVersion 3 % defaults write com.apple.mail EnableBundles -bool yes
Then put the ASPLeopard.mailbundle file in ~/Library/Mail/Bundles (you might need to create that folder if it does not already exist).
I’ve been using Apple’s iTunes Music Store (iTMS) for over two and a half years, in which time I have amassed a sizable music library. The interface of the iTMS offers the ability to browse and explore music in a way that the brick and mortar stores simply cannot compare with. I can quickly preview albums and artists that I’d have never discovered had it not been for the way the interface affords browsing. The iTMS has completely changed the way I search for music.
But, here’s the rub: every time I purchase music from Apple, I feel guilty. That’s right. When I legally purchase music, I feel guilty. Not out of guilt at having broken a law, but a guilt out of having been a poor consumer. The guilt of knowing that I have betrayed the interests of all of my fellow music consumers. How have I betrayed you, my fellow music enthusiast? I have contributed to a business model that is fundamentally bad for you and for me.
__(’Read the rest of this entry »’)
I’ve finally put together a Universal version of my AttachmentScannerPlugin for Mail.app. You can download it from the linked page.
Unfortunately, the Universal version weighs in at a whopping 7.3 MB (zipped to just under 3MB), because it has to include its own Universal version of Python. The version that ships with Mac OS X doesn’t have proper Universal support (even though it appears to). Thus, the hefty footprint on disk. If you don’t need Universal support, you can still download the PowerPC-only version and save yourself about 7 MB.
With all of the travel I’ve been doing lately, I haven’t had a chance to update the Mail.app Attachment Scanner Plugin with its new translation support. Thanks to the help of several generous translators, the plugin will now look for English and French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Swedish words to indicate a possibly missing attachment, depending on the Mac OS X language preference.
Thank you so much to all of the people who have made this support possible!
Apple and Nike today announced a brilliant idea: integrate the iPod with a sensor in one’s running shoes. As you run, the sensor in the shoes detects your pace, distance run, timing, and even calories burned. It relays that data to your iPod, which can then display that data on screen, or synchronize it with your Mac for historical purposes. It’s a great idea — as people run, they often listen to music. Furthermore, the extra feedback can provide an added motivation for those who sometimes need a little extra nudge to workout.
But, the integration is incomplete. Although the system will support the notion of a “power song,” a song the runner can select to give him or herself an extra boost, it does not actually integrate any of the pacing data with the music selection. During our introductory course to the PhD program, I designed such an interface. At the start of the workout, the runner inputs a target pace. As the runner exceeds the pace, the system selects music with a slower beat. As the runner slows, the system selects music with a higher pace. Alternatively, a non-verbal “pulse” can convey a similar sense, without having to superimpose an annoying “Your pace is seven-fifteen” voice-over on the music. I know I’d certainly love to see such a “smart-shuffle” feature added.
In the course of writing my email un-attachment plugin for Mail.app, I found that Apple has a capable, but entirely undocumented, plugin API. I’m providing this tutorial in the hopes that it may be useful to anyone else considering implementing a plugin for Apple Mail.
Update 2008-02-16: See my updated version of this tutorial for Leopard.
Update 2006-04-11: Apparently yesterday’s update truncated the entry. I’ve managed to restore it thanks to the Google Gods and Their Glorious Cache.
Update 2006-04-10: Added some cautionary text about using a private API, as suggested by Jens Alfke. It’s all common sense, but definitely deserves a mention. Especially considering how uncommon common sense is! 